Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, found an island while he was crossing the Pacific Ocean after leaving Spain. This island was soon colonized by Spain and its religion also changed to Catholicism. This happened in 1565. Over 300 years later, on June 12, 1898, it finally declared its independence.

However, the joy of independence did not last long. At the end of the Spanish-American War that same year, the Treaty of Paris1) was signed, and the island country came under colonial rule again, this time by America. As there was a rising sentiment for independence, it seemed that its lost freedom would be regained soon.

However, as the Pacific War2) broke out, it was again occupied by Japan. In 1946, when Japan was defeated in the war, it completely recovered its sovereignty.

It is the Philippines, the country which has inevitably become the only Catholic nation in Asia. Filipinos have in their hearts the sorrows of the past when they were placed under colonial restraint again and again just before independence. Probably because of that, it was also very hard for them to take off their spiritual restraints.

When we preached the good news of eternal freedom to them, they seemed immediately freed from the chain of death, but they were not able to break away from falsehood easily, which had been deeply rooted in their country for hundreds of years. This situation repeated, and it made us feel so anxious.

The spiritual independence in the Philippines seemed to be within our grasp, but it was still far away. Since the gospel in Manila, Philippines, was so slow, I felt very sorry towards God. However, as all the prophecies of the Bible are being fulfilled now, the fetters of sin have finally been broken off and the banner of freedom is fluttering high.

Waiting for the dawn in the deep darkness

The capital city of the Philippines is Metro Manila, which is often simply referred to as “Manila.” However, Manila and Metro Manila are quite different. Metro Manila is the metropolitan area that contains the city of Manila, as well as sixteen surrounding cities and municipalities. I came to Manila, one of those cities, in January 2006. At that time, the gospel in the Philippines had just started, so there was no Zion in Manila yet, except a house-Church in Quezon City.

Although I could not speak English fluently, I diligently preached the gospel, giving thanks to God for having entrusted me with the mission of preaching overseas. Many souls willingly listened to the Word and became children of God without hesitation. Within just one year, we were blessed to enlarge the place of our tent; we moved to a larger place. It seemed that something miraculous would occur soon.

However, for some reason I could not see many of the members anymore. It turned out that most of them had stopped coming to Church because Zion had moved to a place far away from their homes. Looking at the empty seats, I tried to hold back my tears.

I had to start all over again. People in the neighborhood visited Zion out of curiosity as they heard that there were some Koreans. However, most of them came with worldly expectations rather than with spiritual hope. Whenever I saw many empty seats in Zion, no matter how hard I tried to fill it up, I felt frustrated and distressed, without knowing what to do. What troubled me the most was falsehood which was not uprooted however hard I tried.

When I asked them if they knew about Heavenly Mother, most of them answered, “Mama Mary.” When we preached about our true Heavenly Mother, they nodded their heads as if they understood it, but still they insisted on believing in Mary.

The streets and houses were also filled with idols. No matter how many times I explained to them that God had forbidden idolatry, they just kept cherishing the idols and treasured them even more. To people here, Catholicism is a part of their life, beyond religion. For them, it is a fearful thing to give up on what they have naturally believed; they thought it might cause complete turmoil in their lives.

Nevertheless, they seldom go to church. Except on special days like their birthday or Christmas which they mistakenly think is the birthday of Jesus, they do not go to church. They think that they fully show reverence towards God just by making the sign of the cross when they pass by a church.

So it was no wonder that they were unable to understand us when we told them to keep all the commands of God including the Sabbath holy.

There was such deep darkness all over the Philippines. The harder I tried to eliminate the darkness, the closer it approached. Mother was the only power that could enable us to defeat the darkness. Believing that the spiritual dawn of the Philippines would surely break by the light of Mother, we kept on praying and preached Heavenly Mother again and again.

Waking up from a deep sleep in an instant

It was really beyond our ability to find good fruits, but God allowed us to meet the souls who had been wandering about, looking for the truth. Our heavenly family members were led to Zion one after another, though slowly, and some of them even visited Korea like clouds, like doves to their nests. They returned from Korea, filled with the Holy Spirit coming from Mother, and shared the love of Mother and their touching realizations and experiences in Korea with the members who were still weak in faith.

ⓒ 2011 WATV

In fact, the gospel work was actively being carried out in other cities of Metro Manila. Only in Manila, the fire of the gospel seemed to ignite, but it died down soon. The entire city was silent as if it had fallen into a deep sleep. However, it seemed to start waking up gradually, and in 2010, the prophecy which was being fulfilled amazingly awakened Manila in an instant. God was accomplishing the gospel in Manila very quickly as He said, “In its time I will do this swiftly” (Isa 60:22).

This past spring, many young adult members like the dew of the dawn streamed to Zion through the short-term mission team from Korea. They clearly distinguished the truth from falsehood, and also armed themselves completely with God’s word by continuously studying the Bible, so that they could preach the gospel by themselves.

We celebrated the Feast of Pentecost with those young adult members amidst the bustle of crowded Zion for the first time, and we all received the Holy Spirit abundantly.

Soon after the spring feasts, another short-term mission team came to Manila. This time, the local young adult members, who were beginners in preaching the gospel, also joined the short-term mission. While they were helping the short-term mission team members from Korea, who were not fluent in the local language, they saw how fervently the Korean members were preaching the Word in a foreign country, and they opened their eyes to the mission of saving souls. They also understood with their hearts the truth of the new covenant and the sacrifice of Father and Mother while they were preaching the gospel by themselves.

Since then, the young adult members have been very enthusiastic about the gospel.

One day, a brother shed tears; he was having a hard time because of his family who opposed the truth. It was not because of the hardship that he cried, but because he felt very anxious about his family who did not realize Heavenly Mother, the true God. Since the members have such an earnest heart and participate in the gospel, the blessing of a new life continues every day.

Until now, the Manila Church has been led by the Korean members. Everything?preaching, volunteering at Zion, Bible study, and so on?was possible only when the Korean members took the lead. Now, however, it is the young adult members who play a leading role in the gospel work in Manila. They preach the gospel at every opportunity, saying that they have to find their lost brothers and sisters, and liven up the atmosphere of Zion. When I see the members preach the gospel joyfully without rest despite the scorching heat, I even feel ashamed of myself.

They all have one goal: to accomplish the Ten Talent Mission which Mother has given us. Since Mother has already granted Her children the blessing, they believe that they will surely receive it and are filled with the determination to gain many more talents by bearing abundant fruits. They put Mother at the center of their hearts, so naturally it is the truth about Heavenly Mother that they preach to people first.

Surprisingly enough, people receive Heavenly Mother right away as if they have been waiting for Her; previously, they were so slow to believe. All this is the fulfillment of prophecy. According to the prophecies which are being fulfilled exactly without fail, Manila which has fallen in a deep sleep is now awakening through the water of life from Mother.

A streak of light spreading out to 7,000 islands

Just as there are some people in Korea who come to Seoul with no particular plan because they blindly expect that they will succeed if they just go there, so there are many Filipinos who have come to Manila from other regions with the so-called “Manila Dream.” It is said that there are even more immigrants than natives in Manila, and in the Manila Zion there are also many people who received the truth when they came to Manila to find jobs. The problem is that they have to go back to their hometowns after finishing their work in Manila.

Whenever we put our minds together to carry out the gospel work joyfully, the members started to leave Manila one after another. Because of that, we became somewhat discouraged and heartbroken. However, this was also the great counsel of God.

The Philippines is an island country that consists of 7,100 big and small islands.
Manila is located on the island of Luzon, the biggest island of the Philippines.
Even though the gospel had not yet been fully preached in Luzon, the salvation of Heavenly Mother was being preached in far-off regions while we were unaware of it; the members who had returned to their hometowns after listening to the gospel in Manila preached the new covenant to their families and neighbors.

There is Batangas famous for its beautiful beaches near Manila; it is the hometown of a deacon. Beyond the breathtaking view, there is hidden a rugged mountainous area. It is said that during Japan’s colonial rule, some intellectuals formed a village deep in the mountain to flee from the Japanese army. When I visited there, I even doubted if there were really houses there because a dense jungle area was spread out before my eyes. As I walked into the jungle for quite a while, I was able to see some houses behind the thick bushes. Tears welled up in my eyes when I thought about the fact that there were souls who were longing for Elohim even in this remote area.

One day, I went to a certain region after hearing that there were many souls who were waiting to receive the promise of a new life through baptism. I barely arrived there after a 10-hour journey. Some children in the village were singing a song over there, and it felt somehow familiar to me. It was the New Song! The child who had listened to the gospel first taught the New Song to his friends. The New Song I heard in a strange land! I cannot express in words how moved I felt at that time.

The voices of singing praises to Mother are resonating in a deep mountain valley, at bamboo houses in a tropical rain forest, and in a remote island as well. Truly, Father and Mother are Elohim the Almighty, who accomplish the gospel quickly?no, even in an instant.

Recently I have heard from the sister who is keeping faith alone in Elizabeth, which is 12 hours away from Manila, that she is going to visit Korea this time.

I believe that the love of Heavenly Mother will be amazingly preached soon in Elizabeth as well. I am overwhelmed with emotion, and at the same time, I feel very anxious because of a lack of workers.

There are more than 7,000 islands in the Philippine, where we have to reclaim the gospel. Zion will soon be established on all those islands if the gospel workers, who have personally seen, heard and felt Mother’s love, come to convey the love of Mother to people there. However, there is a shortage of gospel workers.

The world mission is being fulfilled very quickly like lightning. I believe that if the gospel workers who have firm faith go out into the world powerfully, the glory of Elohim will shine bright very quickly all over the Philippines.

The gospel in Manila was like a dim streak of light. The dim light has brightened, and it lights up here and there throughout the Philippines. Within just a few months, many brothers and sisters who were waiting for Mother have streamed to Zion. I am grateful just for that.

Mother, now Manila has been awakened from the sleep of death, shaking off the deep darkness. We, who have woken up through Your endless love and grace, will shine the light of salvation brilliantly in keeping with the prophecies.